Trail Magic!

Day 17 I arrived at Olallie Lake Resort at 8:30 a.m. after a short downhill 2.5 mile hike and what was I rewarded with? Trail Magic! I walked into a campsite area on my way to the General Store. There were a couple of people hanging out at one of the picnic benches and I was greeted with, "So, do you want some pancakes?" My response was an exuberant rhetorical, "Do I want some pancakes?" My greeter was Trail Angel Nate, and he was cooking up pancakes and eggs for the backpackers passing through his realm. Until now, my appetite had been weak, but I managed to eat 8 pancakes, some with fresh banana baked in, and 4 eggs! Nate just kept cooking and shoveling food into the middle of the table. Nate had tried to thru-hike the year before but had some injuries that cut his try short. He ran into a trail angel and decided to give back this year.

147 Mt Jefferson in the Clear

145 Olallie Lake Dock

146 Olallie Store Porch

After gorging myself and talking to Nate and another hiker for awhile, I picked out a campsite and then headed over to check out the General Store. I talked with Dennis, who was running the store, and discovered there was no electricity to charge my devices. They had a small solar panel that was just enough to run the cash register. I selected a few items to round out and diversify my food stuffs. Pop Tarts for breakfast! I headed back over to the campsite and enjoyed a beer and conversation with other hikers. This turned into a full day off and I had to make a decision about tomorrow. Nate cooked up some hamburger meat later in the day which took care of dinner. He served about 25 thru hikers today including two separate couples from France. I helped Nate load his van up at the end of the day and then retired back to the store for an Orange Crush soda. I definitely didn't need any more food today.

The view of Mt Jefferson was blocked by smoke for most of the day but it cleared up by morning. I was planning to spend another day here but because today was like a day off, I decided to save my zero day for later, just in case I needed it.

Only 4 days of hiking left!!! The hike is almost over and I think I can safely say I will complete the trip and earn a couple of wonderful days with Trish at Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood.